Seal



T. FRANKEL July 7, 1953 SEAL Filed Dec. 21 1949 INVENTOR. THEODORE FRAN/(EL.

'JBY /ZMJ ZM- Patented July 7, 1953 SEAL Theodore Frankel, New York, N. Y.

Application December 21, 1949, Serial No; 134,251

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to sealing devices'of the type which once closed :may be opened only by mutilating the same, to thereby indicate that the seal has been broken if an attempt is subsequently made to re-close the seal.

Devices of this character are usually empolyed in connection with merchandise for the purpose of attaching a. tag to the latter, so that removal of the tag necessitates the mutilation of the sealing device. The sealing device may also be used in association with the binding on a package by engaging the sealing member with the opposite ends of the string or twine to thereby afiord means for detectingthe opening of the package. The purpose of such sealing devices, broadly stated, is to prevent tampering with goods, or the removal of tags or the like therefrom, without positive detection.

An object of this invention is to provide a seal of the above character which is so constructed that when it is once closed, a re-opening thereof may only be achieved by substantial mutilation of the seal, thus providing positive evidence of such reopening.

A further object of this invention is to construct a seal of the characterdescribed formed from a single blank of materiall Another object of this invention is to provide a seal of the character described so :formed as :to

provide the maximum gripping area between the several parts to thereby discourage the prying open of theseal.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a seal of the character described in which positive gripping of the several parts to prevent .re-opening of the seal is effected-without the necessity of deforming the structure of the seal, thereby facilitating the closing and locking thereof, and :in which :re-opening, after the seal is once closed, may be effected only by mutilation thereof.

Finally, an object of this invention is to provide a seal of the character described in 'which the locking elements are completely hidden when the seal is closed to thereby prevent re-opening of the seal without substantial mutilation, and in which the construction is simple, sturdy and relatively inexpensive to permit the widest use of the device.

With the foregoing objects and other features .and in the details of construction'hereinafter described and claimed, it being understoodthat various changes and modifications may. be effected within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims, and withoutsacrificing-the advantages thereof. 'I o In the drawing: Figure'l is a plan view of a seal constructed according to an embodiment of my invention illustrated in the open position,

Figure 2 is a side view of the seal illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, I

Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank from which the seal shown in Figure 1 is formed,

Figure 4a is a fragmentary perspective. *view illustrating a step in forming the seal .from'the blank shown in Figure 4, r 1 a Figure 5 is -a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, Y I Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the locking elements as the seal is moved towards closed position,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of Figure '7 just prior to'the positioning of the seal in fully closed position,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view simitaken on the line H-ll of Figure 10, and

. Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view of; a blank fromwhich almodified seal may be formed. Referring to the drawing, and initially to Figure 4 thereof, a blank B is illustrated from which a sealing device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention may be formed. The blank B includes a pair of lozenge-shaped plates H and I2 respectively, disposed in end to end relationship, and connected together, at the adjacent acutely angled points thereof by an integral web 13. The outer, or remotely disposed,v acutely angled points of the plates H and I2 are squared off as at M and I5 respectively, andinwardly directed slots or-cuts l6 and I! are formed in each of the several corners of the plates H and I2. The edges of'the plate H are then bent at right angles to the platealong the fold lines I 8, of Figure 4, to providelthe peripheral edge flanges I9," The tabs 20, on each I of the opposite ends of the flanges I9 are bent inthe toothed projections 22. The marginal edges 7 p of the plate l2 are similarly bent at right angles to provide the flanges 23, and the top edges Off these flanges are reverted and inclined inwardly to form the rims 24. As seen in Figure '7, the

rims 2| and 24 are disposed in substantially parallel planes, when the plates are swung towards each other for closing of the sealing device. The plates II and I2 are so dimensioned with respect to each other that the flanges l9 are capable of telescoping within the flanges 23. 1'.

Figures '7 through 9 illustrate the operation of the sealing device, and more specifically the manner in which the plates I I and I2 are locked together to prevent opening thereof without muti :lation of the device.

In Figure 7, the plate II has been pivoted about the connection portion -or web I3, and is approaching the plate I2; In

Figure 8, the inclined rims 2| and 24 have already engaged, and are sliding over each other. As seen. in this figure, the flange I9, and the flange 23 are being oppositely resiliently sprung, to permit the passage of the rims relative to each other. shown'in their final closed position, in which the flanges I9 and 23 have returned to theirnormal right angular relationship relative to the plates to which they are attached, and the rim 24 is disposed above the rim 2| and between the latter and the flange I9. The seal constructed according to the above description may be formed of any resilient material such as'metal or the like, and preferably of such material in a relatively thin gauge, so that, any attempt to force the plates II and I2 open after the rims 2| and '24 In Figure 9, the plates II and I2 arehave been engaged, will result in substantial mutilation of the parts in order to indicate'that such an attempt at opening has been made.

In Figures 10 and 11 I have illustrated a possible use for the sealing device constructedaccording to this invention. In these latter figures,

and in the remainder of the drawing, the sealing device and its several parts, have all been shown on a substantially enlarged scale, and it is to be understood that the actual. device is .of relatively small size and therefore convenient for use. In attaching the sealing device'to the free ends of a string or piece of twine used for attaching a tag or the like to a garment, or for wrapping a package, the free ends 25 and 26 of the string or twine are disposed between the plates H and I2, prior to the closing thereof. When the plates II and I2 are disposed in closed position, by following the steps illustrated in Figures '7, 8, and 9, the portions of the string 25 and 26 will be clamped between the rims 2| and 24,

thereby preventing the removal of the sealing Letters Patent is: .l.--'An unopenable" seal of the sealing device. Figure 12 shows a fragmentary portion of a blank B from which the modified sealing device may be formed. In the modified device the rims 2411, as well as the rims 2|a are formed with toothed edges to thereby increase the gripping of the rims with the strings when the latter are disposed in the position illustrated by Figures 10 and 11.

From the foregoing ,it ,isv apparent that there has beeri' prov-ided herein; an unopenable seal composed ofa pair of elongatedsimila rly shaped plates II, I2, formed of a resilient material, a web I3 connecting the plates along a limited pora piyotal connection between the plates, the plates and"|2"b'eing formed with telescopic marginal flanges I9 and 23, respectively, continuously along opposite edges thereof, each of the said opposite edges of each plate having the end portions thereof, respectively adjacent the pivotal connection 13' and the respective opposite ends I4; |5','ofthe plate, inclined at an angle to-each other, the outer flange 23 being formed with an in'wardly directed locking element onithe edge thereof inclining towards the related plate, andv the: inner." flange I9 .being formed withanputwardly directed locking element'LZ I on the edge thereof inclined sub stantially parallel to the first mentioned'locking element. when the plates are in superposed'position and-located in registration withsaid firstmentioned locking element so that the locking elements cam'againsteach other'as the plates "are "pivotedto: superposed closed position for springing past each other, and With'the plates once in said closed position; spring back to their unflexe'd positions to interengage and thus preventseparation of the'plates. f r

The foregoing description has set'forth two preferred embodiments 'of my invention, which .em-bodimentsmay-be modified and changed within the scope'jof the invention'without' detracting from the advantages'or features thereof; Having thus described specific embodiments of my invention what I claim and intend to'secure by comprising a pair of elongated similarly shaped plates formed of a resilient material, aweb "connecting said plates along a limited lpo'rtion' of the e'dges thereof at one end to providea'pivotal connection between the-plates, said plates being fo'rm'edwith telescopic marginal flanges continuously along opposite ledges thereof; .each of said opposite edges of .each platefhavingthe end portions thereof, re-

spectively adjacent the pivotal connection and the opposite. end of the-plate, inclined at an angle to each other, theouter one of 'the flanges being formed with an inwardly directed locking element onrthe edge thereof linclin'ingtoward the related plate, and the-inner one of the flanges being formed with an outwardly directed locking element on the edge thereof inclined substantially parallel to the first mentioned locking. element when the plates are in superposed position and located-in registration with said first mentioned locking element so that the locking elements fcam against each other as the plates are pivoted to superposed closed position for -springing past each other, and with the plates once in'said closed position, spring back totheir unflexed positions to interengage and thus preventseparationz f the'plates.

I 2. An unopenable seal: according; to claim 1, wherein each-of said-locking elements is formed by arim extendingalong the: edge of therelated flange, at least one of said rims being formed Number with a toothed edge. 1,790,695 3. An unopenable seal according to claim 1, 1,945,965 wherein said plates are lozenge-shaped, and said 2,204,662 web is formed integral with one of the acutely 5 angled points of said plates.

THEODORE FRANKEL. g g References Cited in the file Of this patent of 1910 UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,783,938 Keidel Dec. 2, 1930 Name Date Behrman Feb. 3, 1931 Behrman Feb. 6, 1934 Canter June 18, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 20, 1910 

